This page last updated on 02 November 2008

Winter's nearly over and now's the time to give your Volkswagen a good clean up and check over all things mechanical.

A full service is the best way to go, check all the lights, tyres ( including the spare ) brakes, engine and lubricate cables and grease points.

The oil in your Volkswagen should be changed every 3,000 miles, most engines only have 2.5 litres in them and it's crucial that it's changed at regular intervals as it not only lubricates it also cools your engine down. This is why you must never drive with a broken fan belt.

A full service consists of:

Check lights, replace any bulbs that are not working. Check the wiper blades, lubricate the wiper spindles, top-up the washer bottle and pressurise.

Check tyres, tyre-walls, treads and pressures, including the spare tyre and adjust as required.

Check brakes, remove the drums, check the linings, remove disc pads and check, clean and lubricate moving items and retaining parts, rebuild and adjust. Replace worn parts as required.

Check the brake fluid level.

Repack front wheel-bearings with grease, adjust as required.

Lubricate front axle grease points, check ball-joints and steering joints for wear. Lubricate all moving parts under vehicle.

Check clutch free-play, adjust as necessary.

Drain engine oil, clean or change filter screen, replace oil filter, refill with required amount of oil.

Remove rocker covers, check adjustment of valves (tappets), refit covers using new cork gaskets.

Replace spark plugs, ignition points and Condensor. Adjust as required.

Check plug leads, rotor arm and distributor cap for damage, replace as required.

Check for damage and adjust the fan-belt tension.

Check the battery electrolyte level, ensure charging system is working correctly.

Replace paper type air filter or renew oil in oil-bath air filter.

Check and top up the gearbox and steering box with correct grade oils.

Please note, not all of the above service checks are required on all vehicles.

To be continued....